Every time you step foot in your garden, you’ll see different insects wiggling, crawling, and scrambling across the soil. Although, one little critter you will probably see every time you start pulling out weeds is spiders.

We’re fortunate here in New Zealand to avoid some of the more deadly creatures like snakes, but spiders are still something many of us would rather not see. However, if we knew a bit more about them, we may be more inclined to leave them to their own devices. Read on for some interesting spider facts you may not have known.

What spiders are in New Zealand gardens?

Off the top of your head, how many spiders can you name? Probably not as many are actually present in New Zealand and our average gardens. According to HealthEd, there are approximately 2,500 known spider species in New Zealand. Fortunately, most of them are harmless.

Out of all 2,500, there are perhaps three that are cause for concern: the Redback, White-tailed Spider, and Katipo. 

Both the Redback and Katipo come from the same genus as the American black widow spider. They are both venomous, with the female of each type being capable of biting humans. Bites are rare, but there is an antivenom available for Redback and Katipo bites if they occur. 

White-tailed spiders are identifiable by the white tips at the ends of their abdomens. When they bite, they can cause itchiness, swelling, and pain. In some rare situations, they have also caused nausea, vomiting, and headaches.

White-tailed spider bites tend to resolve on their own over time. Although, if you are concerned, speak to your GP for advice.

Outside of those top three feared spiders, our gardens are home to various harmless species like slater spiders, jumping spiders, and vagrant spiders.

Why do we have spiders in our gardens?

While many spiders prefer to take up residence in our homes and local forests, some choose our gardens as their whares. You may have realised this accidentally when disturbing mulch in the garden or taking care of weeding.

Spiders, like many animals in the ecosystem, are essential. They become more active from around springtime onward and arrive just in time to take care of pests that attempt to wreak havoc on your plants.

They’re not fussy about what they eat, which is good news when you’re trying to find vegetables that critters haven’t ravaged. If you want to put as much distance between you and the spiders as possible, here are some of their most popular hangouts:

• Underneath pavers, pots, rocks, and garden ornaments like birdbaths

• Underneath dense scrub and garden logs

• In trees

• Near drain pipes

• Inside fencing

Should I worry about spiders in my backyard?

Unless you have an infestation of venomous spiders in your backyard, they don’t tend to be creatures to fear. In saying that, a tiny spider here and there is very different from large infestations that are beginning to take over your home. 

If your local spider population is no longer content hanging out in your backyard and, instead, are making themselves comfortable in your home, then it could be in your best interests to look for a solution. We’ll cover what that solution might be below.

Should I get rid of spiders in my garden?

If you want to strike a balance between pest insects and spiders, it may not be wise to get rid of all the spiders in your garden. Although, if you’ve noticed dozens of them while performing garden tidy-ups, there are things you can do to give as many of them their marching orders as possible.

Outside your home, you can apply a bug or spider spray that you purchased from your local garden store. You can use it around exterior walls, window frames, pergolas, vents, door frames, and essentially anywhere that spiders and other pest insects may be outside.

You can then wait around two days before removing all of their webs and enjoying a surprise-free gardening experience. You may also like to make some changes to your home environment to ensure your property is not as desirable as it was before.

Remove spider webs regularly, and refrain from leaving items outside for spiders to make webs in, such as helmets, shoes, and sports gear. When the colder weather hits, move outdoor furniture inside.

Signs that you might have a spider infestation

It’s not always easy to know whether you’ve just been unlucky in seeing spiders or if you’ve genuinely got an infestation. Although, these signs below can point to the latter:  

• Lots of spider webs

• Living or dead adult and spiderlings (babies)

• Egg sacs

• Grey or brown faeces that stain surfaces

• Cast skins of adults and spiderlings

Tips on keeping your children safe around spiders

Even though we have very few dangerous spiders in Aotearoa, that doesn’t mean it’s not worth having a few safety measures in place to keep your whanau safe. Always:

• Check indoor, outdoor, and lawn areas before using (especially with children)

• Wear closed-toe shoes and gloves when gardening

• Check underneath furniture before moving it with your hands

• Move pavers, pots, and other garden ornaments with care

• Avoid going into the garden at night when spiders are most active

Live happily with spiders

As long as they aren’t infesting your home, taking over your garden, or are venomous, there’s every reason to believe you can live happily with spiders.

As terrifying as they can be, most spider varieties can take good care of your plants by eating all your pest insects. You don’t have to welcome them into your home, but accepting they’re always going to be there is how you can warm up to the idea of sharing your property with these eight-legged critters.